Cigarette container, igniter, and ejector



mm, 1933. Y v.5.wERNE'R 1,917 563 CIGARETTE CONTAINER, IGNITER, ANDEJECTOR Fi led Spt. 3, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

@ WEE ggmw 1 lilfu Patented July 1l, 1933-- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEVERNON S. WERNER, F MORRIS, ILLINOIS CIGARETTE CONTAINER, IGNITER, ANDEJECTOR Application filed September a, 1931. Serial No. 561,082.

This invention relates to a combination cigarette holder, lighter andejector, especially adapted for use on motor vehicles although, ofcourse, the same may be employed to advantage in the home of elsewhere.

Briefly stated, an important object of the invention is to provide anarticle of the-char.

acter alluded to in which the manual actuaw tion of a single memberwillbring about the lighting and partial ejection of a single cigarette torelieve the operator of the necessity of selecting a cigarette from anumber of others in a package and then lighting the '15 same through themedium of a match or a separate lighter with the result that when thearticle is used on an automobile the operator may obtain and light acigarette without inconvenience or the danger of accident 29 thatordinarily attends this.

Another and equally important object of the invention is to provide anarticle of the kind herein described in which the arrange ment of partsfor bringing about the successive feeding, lighting, and ejecting0perations is simple and rugged and is such that the possibility ofjamming of parts is reduced to a minimum making the device reliable andpositive in use.

' A further object of the invention is to provide a combinationcigarette holder,

lighter and ejector which is simple to apply, neat in appearance, andcheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and inwhich like numerals are employed to'designate like parts Figure 4 is avertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1, the view beingtaken in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a vertical detail sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure4, the view being taken in the direction of the arrows. Figure 6 is ahorizontal sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 4-, the view beingtaken in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a perspective illustrating a cigarette feed mechanismembodied in the invention.

Figure-8 is a diagram of the wiring arrangement.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 generallydesignatesa cylinder holder adapted to be secured 'in an upright orother convenient position to an automobile dash 12 or any other support.For example, it is entirely within the scope of the invention to mountthe holder 10 on the steering column or in a position convenient to theoccupants of the rear seat of an automobile. Also, when the device isemployed in places other than an automobile it may be attached to achair, a table, a lamp or fact, to an endless'number of supports.

gure 1 illustrates that a bracket 14 of L- shaped formation may beemployed to attach the device to the dash 12, in which case, suitablefastening devices such as small bolts may le employed to connect thebracket to the ash.

Referring now to Figure 4 it will be seen 35 that the holder 10 enclosesa revolving cylinder 16 embodying an annular series of parallel tubes 18open at the ends thereof and having the upper ends thereof more or lessflush with the upper'end of the holder 10 for the convenient receptionof cigarettes.

A cover 20 is applied to the,holder and is provided with an attachingflange detachably secured to the holder through apin and bayonet slotconnection 24 or any other means found desirable. The pin and bayonetslot connection 24 not only secures the cover 20 in place but at thesame time provides a means by which the opening 26 in the cover ispositioned in line with the ejecting positionof tray 25 which may beconveniently removed and emptied by the simple removal of the cover.

With further reference to Figure 4 it will be seen that the cylinder16is provided with an axial hub 28 in the form of a sleeve receiving aspindle 30. The spindle is, in turn, carried by the bottom of the holder10 and allows the cylinder 16 to be turnedin a manner to be described,for the-successive presentation of the cigarettes to the lighting andejecting position.

Referring now tothe means by which the cylinder 16'is turned, always inthe same direction of course, attention is invited to F igures 3, 4 and5 in' which it is illustrated that the annulus forming the lower end ofthe cylinder 16 is extended inwarg of the tubes and is provided on theupper s rface thereof with an annular series of ratchet teeth32 engagedby an arcuately movable pivoted pawl 36. 7 A

In Figure 3 it is illustrated that the annulus upon which the ratchetteeth 32 is formed may be engaged by a felt or other friction memberv 48mounted on one end of a leaf' spring 49 the latter being suitablyanchored to the holder and being tensioned to ress the felt into contactwith the annulus and thereby hold the cylinder 16 in a set position;

The pawl 36 is horizontally pivoted to the upwardly off-set outerterminal portion of a radial arm 40 the inner portion of the arm beingrotatably mounted on the spindle 30.

Figure 4 illustrates that the lower portion of he spind1e30 is reducedto define a shoulder-resting on a washer 42 at a point spaced above thiswasher, the spindle is formed with or carries a-boss 44. It IS betweenthe washer 42 and the boss 44 that the arm 40 is mounted with the resultthat freedom of movementv of the arm is allowed at all times, it beingnoted in this connection that the space between the washer 42 and theboss is slightly greater than the thickness of the arm 40 so that therecan be no binding of these parts.

It is believed to be. apparent that arcuate movement of the arm 40 in aclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3 will bring about similarmovement of the cylinder 16 for the single presentation of thecigarettes to the lighting and ejecting position.

The arm 40 is shown in Figure 7 to be engaged by a vertically movablecam 46. More particularly, the arm 40 is provided between the endsthereof with an L-shaped slot 47 opening out through one side thereofand receiving one of the spaced parallel arms or sides of the cam 46.;The cam 46 has the upv 1.917,:ses'

per portion thereof extended angularly so that upward movement of thecam will bring about arcuate movement of the arm 40.

As might otherwise be expressed, the cam 46 is provided with a,longitudinal cam slot slidably receiving a finger or other portion ofthe cam 40 thereby producing a motion transmitting connection betweenthe cam and the associated arm. The lower portion of the slot in the cam46 is straight as is the adjacent portion of the cam so that the finalphase of the upward movement of the cam 46 will not further change theposition of the radial arm 40. It might be noted thatdownward movementof the cam 46 will bring about the retraction of the arm 40 and thespring actuated pawl 36 carried thereby so that the pawl will be inposition for again imparting the desired arcuate movement to thecylinder 16.

As shown 'in Figure 4 the cam 46 is located between and in spacedparallel relation to a pair of depending guide members 50 and 52,the'cam 46 being provided at the lower portion thereof with a member 54having a slot receiving the depending guide member 50. A roller 56 iscarried by the member 54 adjacent the slot therein and is adapted forcontact with the depending guide 50 to avoid.

46 to the lower position shown in Figure 4,

subsequent to the manual elevation of this part. a The angularlyextending lower portion of the cam 46 also carries the cylindricalsupport 64 of a lighting element 66 so that the ascent of the cam isaccompanied by similar movement of the lighting elements The lightingelement 66 has constant electrical engagement with a contact 70 in thepath of travel of and adapted for engagement by a'second contact 72. Thecontact 72 has connection with a source of current 74 and since theelement 66 is grounded as shown in Figure 8, only one wire need extendto the device. With reference to Figure 8, it will be seen that aresistance element 96 may be positioned between the source of current 74and the lighting element 66 to protect the lighting element. The numeral97 design ates an ammeter from which the electrical feed may be taken.

In carrying out the invention, the contact 72 is mounted on the lowerportion of a handle 78 which lower portion of the handle is attached tothe cam 46 through the intervention of a leaf spring 80. That portion ofthe leaf spring 80 between the handle 78 and the cam ment 66. Now, it isimportant to observe that upon the application of the lifting force tothe handle 78 the supply of current to the heating element 66 is broughtabout and this is followed by thepartial rotation of the cylinder 16 andthe engagement of the element with the lower end of the cigarette. Sincethe lighting element 66 is energized as the first step in theprocurement of a ciga rette, sufficient time is allowed the lightingelement to reach a c"itical temperature before contact with thecigarette is-lost.

The ejecting stem 64 is slidable within depending guide barrel 90suspended from the holder 10 and located so that the tubes 18 aresuccessively brought into alignment therewith. Of course, the.arrangement of parts is such that the partial rotation of the cylinder16 is completed before the element 66 is caused to enter the tubeimmediately above. Also when the handle 78 is released,

the spring 52 will return-the heatingelement all to furnish theair-necessary for the lighting of the tobacco.

In the use of the invention the tubes 18 are loaded with cigarettes andin passing, it might be noted that the employment of an annular seriesofconnecting and yet individual tubesavoids crushing of the cigarettesrWhen it is desired to obtain a cigarette it is simply necessary tomanually raise the handle 78 toifirst bring about contact to the members70 and 72 and then raise the cam 46 to bring one of the tubes 18 intocigarette lighting and ejecting position after which the energizedlighting element enters the tube and raises the cigarette therein sothat the economy and durability.

It is to be understood that the form of invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken merely as a preferred example of the same, andthat such minor changes and arrangement in construction of parts may bemade as may remain within the spirit of the invention and scope of whatis claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: a

1. In a smokers article of the character specified, a holder, arotatable cigarette carrier within said holder, means for intermittentlyturning the holder for the successive presentation of the cigarettescarried thereby to a lighting and ejecting position, a leaf springrigidly attached to said means, a handle rigidly attached to said leafspring in spaced relation to said means, leaving the intervening portionof the spring free to be flexed, a combined lighter and ejector mountedon said means, electrical contacts carried bv said handle and saidcombined lighter and ejector and adapted for mutual engagement upon theflexing of said spring, and a spring to normally hold said means andsaid combined lighter and ejector in retracted positions.

2. In a smokers article of the character specified, a holder, arotatable cigarette carrier within said holder, means for intermittentlyturning the holder for the successive presentation of the cigarettescarried thereby to a lighting and ejecting position, a leaf springrigidly attached to said ,.,means, a handle rigidly attached to saidleaf spring in spaced relation to said means, leaving the interveningportion of the spring free to be flexed, a combined lightenand ejectormounted on said means, electrical contacts carried by said handle andsaid combined lighter and ejector and adapted for mutualengagement uponthe flexing of said spring, and a spring to normally hold said means andsaid combined lighter and ejector in retracted positions, and guidingelements arranged on opposite sides of said means in spaced parallelrelation thereto.

3. In a smokers article, a cigarette holder having a plurality ofcigarette receiving chambers open at both ends thereof means tosuccessively, present said chambers to a cigarette lighting and ejectingposition and embodying a vertically movable member provided with anangularly extending terminal portion, a guide stem passing through saidangularly extending portion, a spring mount ed on said stem and engagingsaid angularly extending terminal portion to urge the same to aretracted position, a handle having a leaf spring connected to saidmember with a portion of the leaf spring free to allow the handle tomove with respect to the member, a

combined cigarette lighter and ejector car-' ried by said angularlyextending portion of said member, electrical contacts carried by saidangularl extending portion and by said handle and, a apted for mutualengagement,

and a guiding tube for said combined lighter and ejector.

4. A dispensing device of the class described comprising a holder, acylinder rotatably mounted within the holder, a ratchet carried by oneend of said cylinder, an arm rotatably mountedwithin the holder andhaving a pawl for engaging said ratchet, a cam carried by said holderfor actuating said arm and pawl thereof, depending guiding memberssuspended from said holder and rovided with means for engaging said camibr guiding said cam in its movement, said cylinder being provided. witha series of individual cigarette chambers, said holder having anejecting opening and ejecting means connected to said cam andsimultaneously operable therewith for moving said pawl over said ratchetas said ejecting means engages a cigarette for ejecting same from saidholder, the pawl being adapted to engage said ratchet and rotate saidcylinder upon the return movement of said ejecting means for moving asucceeding cigarette in the path of movement of said ejecting means.

5. A dispensing device of the class described comprising a holder,acylinder rotatably carried by said holder and being provided with aratchet spaced inwardly of the periphery of-the cylinder, a pawlcarrylng arm pivotally mounted within said holder, a

pawl carried by said arm for engaging said ratchet, a vertically movingcam suspended below said cylinder and carried by said holder, saidcylinder being provided with an annular series of individual cigarettechambers, depending guide members secured to said holder and arranged onopposite sides of said cam in spaced parallel relation, means carried bysaid arm and engaging said guide members for guiding said cam in itslongitudinal movement, and a spring carried by pawl engaging saidratchet, a longitudinally movable cam engaging said arm for actuatingsaid arm and pawl thereof, said cylinder being provided with a series ofindividual cigarette chambers, depending guide members carried by saidholder and arranged upon opposite sides of said cam member in par-.allel spaced relation thereto,.guiding means carried by said cam memberand engaging said guide -members, spring means interposed between saidholder and said guiding means for normally holding said cam in anextended position, a cam operating means, and a combined li hter andejector operable simultaneously with said cam. f

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

VERNON S. WERNER.

